and Egypt. He then extended his reach, almost without restriction, as far as India
and made his headquarters in Babylon. But his rule was short-lived. He died
unexpectedly at the age of 33. After his death his realm fell prey to his greedy
officers. The contest finally developed into a battle between the Seleucid rulers
to the north of the Jewish state and the Ptolemies to the south. (See Dan. 11:5-
13 .)
History was to confirm the words of Scripture with remarkable accuracy. It is
no wonder that those who deny the supernatural want to place the writing of the
book of Daniel in the second century B.C. and suggest that the book was history
written in the form of prophecy. However, the book of Daniel gives every evi-
dence of having been written in the sixth century B.C. Prophecy not only is a
possibility; it is an actuality, a sure ground for trust and confidence in the God
whom we worship.
3. Rome and the Mystery of Iniquity (Dan. 11:14-39).
Although commentators differ as to when Rome appears as a power in the
prophecy of Daniel 11, they generally agree that Daniel 11:5-14 refers to con-
flicts between the Ptolemies in the south and the Seleucids in the north. Because
Rome features in the previous visions of Daniel as coming after Greece, we
would expect Rome to be mentioned in this prophecy. Some Adventist students
of this prophecy see Rome appearing for the first time in verse 16 but the
SDA
Bible Commentary
seems to favor the position that Rome is mentioned in verse
14 as the "robbers of thy people" (vol. 4, p. 869). Our design in this brief study
is to give the overall perspective and to leave the specifics for deeper study.
Although we will not deal with the specific application of every detail of these
prophecies we should look at some meaningful phrases, and try to understand
them:
A
raiser of taxes
(Dan. 11:20). Many commentators consider this is a refer-
ence to Caesar Augustus. If this is so, we certainly have come to a point in the
prophecy which refers to Rome. (See Luke 2:1.)
A vile person
(Dan. 11:21). It is believed that this is a reference to the emperor
Tiberius during whose reign Christ was crucified. It was said of him that he was
"an eccentric, misunderstood, and unloved person.
"—SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 4, p. 870. However, other commentators would attach the term to the medi-
eval papacy. (See Maxwell, C.M.,
God Cares
[Mountain View, CA: Pacific
Press Publishing Association, 1981], p. 283.)
Prince of the covenant
(Dan. 11:22). Undoubtedly this is Jesus Christ who
Was to "confirm the covenant with many for one week." Daniel 9:27. Jesus was
born in the days of the Romans (see Luke 2:1-7) and was crucified under Pontius
Pilate (See Luke 23:24).
The end shall be at the time appointed
(Dan. 11:27). This expression empha-
sizes that God has a timetable. Nothing takes place before its time. The expres-
sion is repeated in verse 29. History may seem to be a random set of circum-
stances, determined by the laws of cause and effect, but the Bible reminds us
that there is One who is in control. Nothing
against the holy covenant
(Dan.
11:28). Can you imagine how anyone can be opposed to a holy covenant? What
do you understand by "Holy covenant"? What is God's new covenant? (See Jer.
31:31-33.) Daniel refers to those who "forsake the covenant" (Dan. 11:30).
THINK IT THROUGH: Is it not amazing that people can be so willful as to
go their own way and refuse to be guided by God's law? Why is this so?
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